Feeler construction for package



c. ARELT 2,344,667

FEEIJER CONSTRUCTION FOR PACKAGE STAMPERS 0 Filed April 30, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 21, 1944.

FIG. I

INVENTOR CHARLES AR:;';T ATTOENE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENT a BY CHARLES ARELT FIG. 2

March 21, 1944. c ARELT I FEELER CONSTRUCTION FOR PACKAGE STAMPERS Original Filed April 30, 1940 Patented Mar. 21, 1944 FEELER CONSTRUCTION FOR PACKAGE STAMPERS Charles Arelt, Richmond Hill, N. Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey pril 30, 1940, Serial No.

Original application A 332,485, now Patent ber 21, 1941.

No. 2,259,445, dated Octo- Divided and this application September 12, 1941, Serial No. 410,492

4 Claims.

This invention relates to package stampers for attaching revenue stamps or labels to packages, and this application constitutes a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 332,485, filed April 30, 1940, which. issued October 2 1, 1941, as Patent No. 2,259,445. p

In prior package stampers, such as shown in the patent .to C. Arelt 'et al., No. 1,998,067, April 16, 193 5, the package to be stamped, upon entering the transfer which carries it transversely to the support whereon the package is advanced into position for application of the stamp, engages and displaces a yielding feeler which controls the operation of mechanism for interrupting the rotation of the stamp transfer wheel which applies the stamp to the package advanced on the support. During this transverse movement of the package while engaging the feeler, there is a tendency to smudge the printing on the lateral face of the package engaging the feeler.

Among the objects of the present invention is to relieve the pressure of the yielding feeler plate upon the package in the transfer while it is being transported to the support whereon the packages are advanced for application .of the stamp or.

label to prevent smudging of the printing on the package. p i

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the package stamper equipped with the novel feeler construction; and

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same.

Referring to Fig. 1, the stamps or labels S are stacked in a magazine 20 from which they are successively withdrawn by a suction take-off arm 2| which deposits each stamp upon the circumference of a stamp transfer wheel 22, the latter successively bringin the stamp into position to engage successive cigarette packages P advanced over a runway 23. The stamp S, which is held on the transfer wheel 22 by a clamp 24 while being carried to the package P, receives a coat of paste from the spaced flanges of a rotating paste wheel (not shown) by being drawn thereover. The construction of 20, the take-off arm, the transfer wheel erating mechanism of the latter may be the same asthose disclosed in Patent 1,998,067, issued April 16, l935,'to C. Arelt et a1.

The packages P issuing from the cigarette packaging machine travel over a runway 25 held by a suitable bracket 26 attached to the main frame of the machine. Arriving at the end of said runway 25 the leading package encounters a feeler plate 2? attached to a projecting member 28 of a link 23.

the stamp magazine paste Wheel and the 22, as well as the driving and op Qne end of arm 29 is loosely mounted on a stud 35 held by a forked lever 3|, I

ver 41 mounted on a shaft 48.

while the other end of arm 29 is pivoted to a stud 32 held by a forked lever 33. The forked levers 3| and 33 are parallel to each other and loosely mounted on shafts 34 and 35 respectively, both of which are supported by a bracket 36 attached to the main frame 37 of the machine (Figs. 1 and 2). Arm 33 furthermore is equipped with an extension 38 on the free end of which is mounted a roller 39 resting on a controlcam. 40 mounted on the stamper operating shaft 4| which is continuously driven from themain drive of the packaging machine (not shown).

The packages P advanced over runway 25 in a horizontal position are successively transferred from said runway 25 on to runway 23 by a trans-' fer arm 42 and a reciprocating pusher plate 43 (Figs. 1 and 2.). While the packages P, when entering the transfer arm 42, are in a horizontal position, said packages are delivered to runway 23 in an upright position, so that the stamp can; be applied conveniently over the top of said packages. The transfer arm 42 is mounted on'an oscillating shaft 44 actuated by a lever 45 (Fig. 2) which is connected through a link 46 to a le- The latter, as welltas shaft 44, are supported by suitable bear-*- ings' of main frame 37. Shaft 48 is operated by a cam lever 49 carrying a cam roller 50 engaging with a cam 5| mounted on shaft 4|. Cam lever 49 furthermore is equipped with a control arm 52 carrying a control stud 53 the projecting end of which, when at the proper time no package has entered the transfer arm 42, presses against a lock bar 54 which in turn contacts a stationary stop bar rigidly mounted on a lug 56 of bracket 36. Lock bar 54 is secured to a lug 51 which projects from th connecting link which carries the feeler plate 21. Therefore, when at the proper moment no package arrives to enter the transfer arm 42, the feeler plate 2'! remains within the same and lock bar 54 staysin the path of the control stud 53 of the oscillatins control arm 52 and, since cam lever 49 is part of arm 52, roller 50 cannot follow its cam 5|. Thus the movement of shaft 48, which normally actuates the transfer arm 42 is stopped. Since only a few thousandths of an inch clear ance is provided between lock bar 54 and stopbar 55, which corresponds to the clearanc between the shafts 34 and 35 within the bores in the levers 3| and 33 wherein they are mounted, the pressure of control stud53 will wedg lock bar 54 against stop bar 55 without distorting or, stressing the feeler mechanism. As the proper portion of the cycle control stud 53 releases lockbar 54 again, and, due to a light tension spring;

as a stop plate for said package to determine the right position of the latter within the pocket.

The movement of feeler plate 21' is checked when roller 39 of lever 38 contacts the cam 49. It "is experienced that, while the leading package pushed into the pocket of the transfer arnrfby the following packages, quite a bit of pressure builds up as the leading package is stopped at the end position against the feeler plate 21.

Therefore, in order to prevent smudging of the located in the pocket of the transfer arm 42, thus reducing friction between the package to be transferred and the remaining package on one side and the feel'er plate 2'! on the other, during transferring action. The withdrawal of the feeler is timed to coincide with the transfer of the package. When a package is in the pocket of the transfer armand the feeler plate 21 in its rear position, the lock bar 54 is out of the path of the control stud 53 on the oscillating control lever 52, thus permitting cam lever 49 to actuate shaft 48 and therewith the transfer arm 42. To the latter is furthermore attached a shield 69 employed for the purpose of preventing any packages from falling off the runway 2'5 while said transfer arm delivers a package to the runway 23.

As mentioned heretofore, the pusher plate iii pushes the package P out. of the pocket of the transfer arm 42 over the runway 23 where the stamp is applied .to-the top of the package. The transfer arm 42 thenreturns immediately to its receiving position.

The pusher plate 4.3 is attached to a reciprocating pusher arm El pivoted by a pair of studs '62 and 63 to an idler or supporting lever 54 and an operating or cam lever 65. Both of said levers are pivoted tosuitabl bearing brackets (not shown) of the main frame of the machine. Cam lever 65 carries a cam roller 65 engaging with a cam track .67 of a cam 68 mounted on the shaft 4|.

As the package P propelled by pusher plate 43 passes underneath the stamp transfer wheel 22, thestamp S to which stripes of glue or paste have been applied, is released by clamp 24 on said transfer wheel and a forked stamp applier plate 69 descends and presses the stamp upon the top of the package (Figs. 1 and 2). The stamp applier and folder mechanism, which will now be described, form the subject matter of my aforesaid application, Serial No. 332,485, filed April 30, 1940, on which Patent No. 2,259,445 was issued October 21, 1941. The stamp applier plate 69 is adjustably mounted on a bracket 13 pivoted on a stud 'H held by a bracket 1?. (Figs. 1 and 2) rigidly attached to a sliding frame '53 slidably. supported and uided by a stationary guide plate 14 adjustably mounted upon a bracket (Fig. 2) of main frame 31. To stud H is furthermore pivoted a bracket it on which is adjustably mounted a forked stamp folder plate 11- which descends immediately after the stamp applier plate 69 has pressed the stamp S upon thetop of the package (Fig. 1). The, descending and ascending movement of the stamp applier plate 89, as well as the stamp folder plate, is achieved by a cam lever 18 (Figs. 1 and 2) carryin 80 mounted on shaft M. The end portion of said cam lever 18 is equipped with a track 8| which suitable a cam. roller 19 engaging with a cam engages with a roller 82 pivoted to a vertical slide-bar 83 on whose upper end is mounted a guide head 8d. The latter is provided with a horizontal track 85 (Figs. 1 and 2) which engages with a roller 85 pivoted to the bracket 19. The latter is equipped with a lug 81 carrying a stop stamp applier plate 69 and the folder plate TI respectively, enables the folder plate 11 to continue its downward movement and fold the projecting front end of the stamp smoothly over the side of the package while the stamp applier plate holds the stamp on the top of the package (Fig. 1). Of course the continuing downward movement of the folder plate 71 while the applier plate stays on top of the package, creates a gap between stop stud 88 and control screw 89 and the relative setting of plates '69 and 11 can. be adjusted and varied by turning screw 89.

In order to assure perfect registration and also assure a perfect control of speed of both the applier and folder plates in relation to the speed of the package traveling over runway 23, the pusher arm 5| carriesv an adjustably mounted plate 9| (Fig. l) which during its forward movement contacts a block 92, which is pivoted in self-aligning relation on a, stud 93 held by the lower flange of the sliding frame 13 upon which the applier and folder plates 69 and TI respectively are mounted by bracket 12. Therefore, the forward speed of the package is exactly the same as that of the applier and folder, thus keeping the registration of the latter in constant proper relation to each other while the stamp is applied during the forward movement of the package propelled by pusher plate 43 and a much higher speed can be obtained than ever possible heretofore.

The applier plate 69 as well as the folder plate 11 remain in contact with the applied stamp during almost the entire forward stroke of plate 43 until the package almost reaches the already stamped row of packages PI, the last one of which is still held by a set of stamp folder prongs 94 adjustably mounted on an oscillating flanged bracket 95 fastened to a shaft 95 carrying a lever 91 (Fig. 1) which is actuated by a connecting rod 98 from a properly timed cam lever (not shown) of the main drive of the machine. When the package P almost reaches the row of the already stamped packages Pl, the applier plate 69 and the folder plate 11 move upward and at the same time the folder prongs 94 release the rearmost of the already stamped row of packages PI and also swing up. The pusher plate 43 keeps pushing the package P against said rearmost package?! and continues pushing, now of course the entire row, until the rear top edge of the package P is aligned with the folder prongs 94 (Fig. 1) which thendescend and fold the remaining projecting end of the stamp S over on to the rear side of package P while pusher plate 43 returns to' its starting position. The rear end of the stamp is held to the rear side of the package by prongs 94 until a new package is pushed against the same. The top rail 99 is mounted on a bracket 198 rigidly attached to the main frame of the machine. While the pusher plate 43, after delivering its freshly stamped package to its destination, returns immediately to its starting position, applier plate 69 and folder plate 'II return in raised position and independently of pusher plate 43.

The return stroke of the applier and folder mechanism is derived and controlled from a control arm I III, to the upper end of which is pivoted a self aligning block H12 against which is held the lug I03 of slide I3 by the action of a tension spring I94 while pusher arm 6I starts its return stroke, wherefore pusher plate 9| pulls away from block 92. The slide I3 then follows the control lever IOI whidh is adjustably connected to and operated by a cam lever I05 carrying a roller I06 engaging with a track I 01 of a cam I08 mounted on the shaft 4I. Control lever IBI and cam lever I I35 are mounted on a shaft I09 supported by a suitable bearing bracket II (Fig. 2) attached to the main frame of the machine. The slide I3 does not return quite as far as the pusher arm SI and there is a space between the pusher plate 9| of arm 6I and the block 92 of slide I3 when the latter and arm are in their rearmost position. This space is provided for the purpose of allowing the applier plate to contact the freshly applied stamp S on the forwardly moving package P a moment before the slide carrying said applier plate, is taken along by the pusher arm. Thus said applier plate will slide for a moment on the applied stamp of the moving package and iron the same thereby obtaining a better seal of the stamp on the top of the package. Since the applier plate 69 is also equipped with a pair of prongs I II extending downwardly at either side of the revenue stamp, Fig. 2, the package will slide against these prongs which serve to press the upper edge of the pouch wrapper at the top front side of the package firmly against the inner foil wrapper, thereby preventing the outer wrapper from bulging out of place while the stamp is folded thereover a moment later by the fingers of folder plate 11. The extent of the gap between the plate 9| and block 92 is such that at the moment the front side of the moving package touches prongs I I I, the slide I3 and therewiththe applier and folder mechanism are taken along by the pusher arm BI.

In order to prevent any side sway and assure a rigid mounting and connection of the delicate applier and folder mechanism with the slide I3, the guide head 84 is equipped with an angular guide shoe II2 which, together with head 84 forms a guide channel (Figs. 1 and 2) into which projects a guide plate II4 rigidly attached to bracket H5. The latter, furthermore, carries a guide plate I I5, the protruding end of which projects into a slot of the applier plate 69.

It will be understood that when no package is advanced against the feeler 21 in position to be transported by the transfer arm 42 to the runway 23 the rotation of the shaft on which transfer wheel 22 and the cam controlling the swinging movement of the suction take-off arm 2| are mounted, will be interrupted by throwing out a clutch (not shown) on said shaft which is controlled by a linkage (not shown) connected to the free end of the cam lever 52. The construction of said clutch and linkage may be the same as that disclosed in above mentioned Patent 1,998,067, to which reference may be had for a complete disclosure thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a transfer member having an opening arranged to admit the leading package of a row of advancing packages and movable transversely of said row from packagereceiving position to delivery position, a yielding feeler normally disposed in said opening to engage the package inserted into said transfer and adapted to be displaced out of said opening by said package, and mechanism for relieving the pressure exerted by said feeler on the package inserted into said transfer from the moment the transfer begins moving toward delivery position and while the latter moves toward delivery position to avoid smudging said package.

2. The combination with a transfer member movable from package-receiving position to delivery position, a yielding feeler engaging the package inserted into said transfer, and mechanism for relieving the pressure exerted by said feeler on the package inserted into said transfer while the latter moves toward delivery position, said mechanism including a cam lever connected to said feeler, a spring urging said feeler into position to engage the package inserted into said transfer, whereby said lever will be displaced upon engagement of a package with said feeler, and a rotary cam arranged to engage said lever and limit the displacement thereof upon engagement of a package with said feeler, said cam having a step permitting further displacement of the feeler by the package to relieve the pressure of the feeler on the package and thereby prevent smudging of the package during the movement of said transfer from package-receiving to delivery position.

3. The combination with a transfer member movable from package-receiving to delivery position, a feeler adapted to engage and be displaced by the package inserted into said transfer, a spring urging said feeler into position to engage the package inserted into said transfer, a stationary abutment arranged at one side of the path of movement of said feeler, said feeler having a portion movable therewith into a position opposite said abutment when there is no package in position to engage the feeler, and a member movable transversely of the path of movement of said feeler, for pressing said portion against said abutment when said portion is moved into position opposite the abutment.

4. The combination with a transfer member movable from package-receiving to delivery position, a feeler adapted to engage and be displaced by the package inserted into said transfer, a spring urging said feeler into position to engage the package inserted into said transfer, a stationary abutment arranged at one side of the path of movement of said feeler, said feeler having a portion movable therewith into a position opposite said abutment when there is no package in position to engage the feeler, a member movable transversely of the path of movement of said feeler, for pressing said portion against said abutment when said portion is moved into position opposite the abutment, and a shaft on which said feeler is pivotally mounted, said feeler being provided with a transverse bore admitting said shaft, and the clearance of the shaft in said bore being suificient to permit the feeler to be displaced transversely by said member to engage said portion of the feeler with said abutment.

CHARLES ARELT. 

